Friction-clutch.



A. L. MBSSIER.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLIUATION rum) 3.25. 1910.

968,676. Patented Aug. 30. 1910.

' UNITED STATES OFFICE.

AUGUSTE L. MESSIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, LASSIGNOR TO H. W. CALDWELL & SON COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Application filed April 25, 1910. SeriaLNo. 557,461;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeUsTE L. Mnssmn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in ring clutches and the object is to provide a simple and durable construction wherein the clutch may be opened as well as closed by positive action and adjustments readily made to take up wear.

In the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification Figure 1 represents in diametrical section a clutch embodying the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The driving ring is designated by the numeral 2, inside clutch aws by the numeral 3 and outside jaws by the numeral 4, said jaws being arranged to slide upon the spider" 5. Fulcrum levers 6 are pivoted to said spider and project on opposite sides of the same,

being connected to the jaws by slot-andpinconstruction and adapted by rocking movement to open and close the jaws.

To the hub 7 of the spider 5 there are pivoted levers 8 by which to operate the fulcrum levers 6 through adjustable connections. Thus said levers 8 have outwardlyprojecting portions 9 overlapping the inwardly-extending portions 10 of said levers 6, and screws 11 connect the overlapping portions of the levers. upper half of Fig. 1 the threaded portion of the screw 11 at one end engages a cylindrical block or swivel piece 12 journaled in a correspondingly formed cross-bore in the inner portion 10 of the lever 6. A shoulder 13 on the screw 11 bears against a flattened portion of a similar cylindrical block or swivel piece 14 loosely engaging a corresponding crossbore in the outwardly-projecting portion 9 of the lever 8. An unthreaded portion of the screw passes through said cylindrical block 14, but beyond this smooth or unthreaded portion the screw is threaded in its smaller diameter to receive a lock nut 15 formed with a tubular extension or sleeve 16 adapted to engage a flattened portion of the cylindrical block 14.

It will be obvious that the above-described construction provides a positive connection As shown inthe between the lever 8 andthe lever 6 for opening as well as closing the clutch. The levers 8 are connected by links 17 with the usual sliding collar 18. It will be seen that outward movement of the levers 8 occasioned by inward thrust of the collar to a position such as shown in Fig. 1, will cause the cylindrical blocks 14 to act against the shoulders 13 of the screws 11 and that the latter will rock the levers 6 and force the clutch aws into engagement with the ring 2. It will likewise be apparent that movement of the collar in the opposite direction, causing inward movement of the levers 8, will result in the cylindrical blocks 14 acting against the lock sleeves l6 and thereby rocking the levers 6 through the medium of the screws 11.

The lloose mounting or 'journaling of the blocks 12 and 14 in their respective levers provides for the necessary rocking to accommodate relative movements of the levers and relative movement ofthe screws 11 and levers is accommodated by openings extending through the latter and made flaring on opposite sides of the cylindrical blocks. Thus the inwardly-extending portion 10 of each lever16 has flaring openings 20 and 21 and the outwardly-extending portion 9 of each-lever 8,.has flaring openings 22 and 23, the latter being extended into the main portion of the lever 8 to accommodate the I nut 15.

It will be noted that the above-described construction provides a thoroughly reliable form of friction clutch with positive action both in opening and closing. The arrangement of the fulcrum levers and their operating levers with portions overlapping in close proximity and near the hub of the spider provides for a short and direct operating connection between the levers and one not likelytobeafiected by centrifugal action. This arrangement also has the advantage of providing an extremely compact construction. It will be noted that the arrangement for adjustment is extremely simple. Turning back the lock nut 15 will permit turning of the screw itself to effect any desired adjustment of the aws. The lock nut serves both for maintaining the adjustment and as part of the positive connection for opening the jaws.

What I claim is:

1. In a friction ring clutch, the combination of drive ring, inside and outside jaws,

spider, fulcrum levers mounted thereon and Connected tenths W ha in i wa yprojectingi-iportions,- thrust collar, levers linked to the latter and extendingndjacent the inwardly-projecting portions,ofa-the fnl-i crum levers, andnstah le lnngitudinallya extending couplings positively connecting said linked levers and said inwardlyprojecting portions of the fulcrum levers for movement together in leoth tlireetions, saidtcoupa lings having adju i and lo ki means:

located at the outer sides of the leversand there protruding for manipulation. V H w 2. In a friction Ting clutch, the combina tion of drive. ring, inside, andoutside aws, spider, fulcrum 'le;vers ,inounted thereon connected-to the aws and having inwardlyp i s- P s, r t enlist lever linked; to the latter'iand; ,having QlllQWftl'dlYj projecting portions overlapping $1195 inwardly-proj ectingl portions v of fthe fulcrum levers, swivel nuts-in the latter, and screws engagingisaid' nuts to turn therein and hav-, ing thrust eii'gag'enient with thein twardly;

projecting portions of the other levers. f; i,

3. In a friction ring clutch, thecjoniihjination of drivering; inside anclout de jaws, spider, crgum levers inoiint ed ther eon and connected to the jaws and having" inwardlyprojecting portions, thrust collar, levers tion of drive ring, inside and outside jaws, spider, fulcrum levers mounted, thereon and ,connectecttodhe jaws and having inwardly projecting portions, thrust collar, levers "linked to the latter and having outwardlyziprojecting portions overlapping the in linked to the latter and having outwardlyprojecting portions .overlapping i ,the' nwardly-proj eating portions ,of the f ilcrij m levers, swivel nuts ii'rthe latter, pieces in the v outwardlvpro ecting port ons 1 of the other levers, and screwsjtur n ng the said'nutsandshouldered,to iengage the said thrust pieces. I

4. In a friction ring clutch, the co nbinm 5. In a friction ring lutch,the 1 the i sent on the outer sides of said levers m'ardly-projectingportions of the fulcrum levers, swivel nuts in the latter, and screws engaging said nuts to turn therein and having thrust engagement with the outwardlyprojecting" portions of the other levers through which said screws project to preortions to be taken hold of for manipnla t ion in,ehangingtheadjustment.

,6. ;.I1i a friction ring clutch, the1oo1nbinaition of drive ring, inside and outside jaws,

,spgder, fulcrum levers mounted thereon and:

connected to the jaws and having inwardlyprojecting. p,ortions,, thrust collar, levers Linked to the latter having outwardlyprojectingp portions, overlapping the inwardlj-projecting.portions of, the fulcrum'i levers, swivel nuts in thelatter, swive iythnust pieces in the;outwardly-pro ecting port ons of the other levers, and screws turi nng inthe sa id nuts andshouldered-to engage the said thrust pieces and,projecting 2 through the levers present on the outer sides thereof portions to hetaken hold of for .man,ipulation in changing the adjustment. j

7. In a friction ring clutch, the; combinationof drivering, insideiand outsi-de jaws,

spider, fulcrum levers mounted thereon and connected tmthejaws and having, inwardly,- projecting portions, r thrust collar, levers linked totlie latter and having outwardly,-

projecting; portions overlapping the -1n- I wardl fl proj'ecting.portions of the fulcrum levers, swivell iuts in, the latter, swivelthrust pieces in the.outwardly-projecting portions of the other levers, screws turning in, the

ad -s and shs ds ec to gag hesaid h ust Pieces n pr jsct gi h ough 1115110 ever t P es nt Q the ou r; ides thereof portions to her'taken hold of for manipula- ,ti on in changing the adjustment,- andloek nuts turning ,on the. screws 011;11116 outerisds o hele rs nd me s es t ethrust P BS- LOUIS Ru n, ROBERT .I-L DQBBEBMANM a 5. i.

AUGUSTEL MESSIER, 

